Multifandom One-shots

116. We'll find a way - Thomas x reader (The Maze Runner)

The relentless sun bore down on the group as they sought refuge under the remnants of a dilapidated building. The barren landscape of the Scorch stretched endlessly around them, a harsh reminder of the trials they had yet to face. The Gladers were weary, their spirits frayed by the unforgiving heat and the constant threat of danger.

Thomas sat a little distance away from the rest, his back against a crumbling wall. His eyes were fixed on the horizon, lost in thought. The weight of their journey seemed to press heavily on his shoulders, and his usual determined expression was replaced by one of uncertainty.

Newt watched Thomas with concern, his brow furrowed. He turned to Y/N, who was sitting nearby, sipping from a shared canteen. "Hey, Y/N," Newt said quietly, trying not to draw too much attention from the others. "Thomas looks like he's got the weight of the world on his shoulders. Think you could go check on him? He listens to you."

Y/N nodded, understanding the unspoken worry in Newt's eyes. "Sure thing, Newt," Y/N replied, standing up and brushing the dust off their clothes. They made their way over to Thomas, each step bringing a sense of purpose.

Thomas didn't look up as Y/N approached, but he shifted slightly, making room for them to sit beside him. "Hey," Y/N said softly, sitting down next to him.

"Hey," Thomas replied, his voice distant.

They sat in silence for a few moments, the sound of the wind sweeping through the ruins filling the void. Y/N waited patiently, knowing that sometimes the hardest part was finding the right words.

"You've been awfully quiet today," Y/N finally said, glancing at Thomas. "Something on your mind? At least other than WICKED chasing us around like a dog trying to catch its own tail."

Thomas let out a short, humorless laugh at Y/N's comment, but his eyes remained distant. "Yeah, something like that," he said, shaking his head. ""I've just been thinking."

Y/N tilted their head, studying Thomas's profile. "Thinking about what?" they asked gently.

Thomas sighed, running a hand through his hair. "About everything. It feels like no matter what we do, we're always one step behind, always reacting instead of taking control. And no matter what I plan, it always fails. Like when we escaped through the maze. Not everyone survived, and when we got through the exit, Chuck died."

Y/N nodded, their expression serious and empathetic. "I get it, Thomas. It feels like you're carrying the weight of the world on your shoulders. The losses, the constant danger—it's overwhelming. But you need to remember something important."

Thomas looked at Y/N, searching for that important truth.

"You need to remember that you're not alone in this. Every plan, every decision, we make them together. And we've survived this long because of your leadership and your courage. Yes, we've faced losses, and they hurt deeply. But we wouldn't have made it out of the Maze without you, and we won't make it through the Scorch without you either. If you never had come, we would still be stuck in that maze."

Thomas's eyes softened, a glimmer of hope returning. "But what if I keep making the wrong decisions? What if more people die because of me?"

Y/N took a deep breath, their gaze steady. "You're human, Thomas. You're going to make mistakes. We all will. But we learn from them, and we keep going. The important thing is that we don't give up. We honor the memories of those we've lost by fighting even harder.

Thomas felt a warmth spread through his chest at Y/N's words. Their unwavering faith in him was a balm to his weary soul. "Thank you... And I know, it's just... I'm tired, Y/N. I'm tired of always being scared, of always wondering if we're going to make it through another day."